The labor dispute between the Government of Quebec and its approximately 1,800 engineers is officially over.
The Professional Association of Government Engineers of Quebec (APIGQ) announced Wednesday that its members have accepted by 90.37% the agreement in principle concluded on July 19 between its negotiators and those of the Secretariat of the Treasury Board.
A total of 1,610 union members took part in the vote which began on July 21 and ended Tuesday this week at 4:00 p.m.
The Association points out that the central element of the agreement is based on the creation of a new class of engineer, which translates into a salary increase. The working week is also increased to 37.5 hours and includes greater flexibility in schedules.
The agreement also allows for the formation of two parity committees.
The union says that new measures in the collective agreement will strengthen the government’s power to retain experienced engineers.
Of the approximately 1,800 engineers represented by APIGQ, 1,200 are employed by the Ministère des Transports. The others work in the Ministry of the Environment and other ministries.
The strike that preceded the signing of the agreement in principle had many repercussions on civil engineering and road construction sites under the jurisdiction of the Quebec government, since government engineers must supervise these sites. Delays were incurred, to the chagrin of the construction contractors concerned.
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